IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,767,308
Granted Patent B2
US 9,767,308 · App. 15/167,479 · Granted Sep 19, 2017

Custom security policies for multiple objects

Inventors: John C. Wilkinson (Hudson, OH); Robert A. Brandt (Menomonee Falls, WI); Clark L. Case (Aurora, OH)
Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
G06F21/6218G06F21/70
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,767,308
App. No.
15/167,479
Granted
Sep 19, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques to facilitate controlling access to objects associated with an industrial automation environment are disclosed. In at least one implementation, a policy set associated with an object type is created, wherein the policy set defines one or more actions that are allowed for at least one user group to perform with respect to the object type. An object of the object type is identified for security configuration, and a selection of the policy set associated with the object type to apply to the object is received. In response to the selection of the policy set, security is configured for the object by applying the policy set associated with the object type to the object.

Claims (34)

1. A method of operating a computing system to facilitate controlling access to objects associated with an industrial automation environment, the method comprising:

creating a policy set associated with an object type, wherein the policy set defines one or more actions that are allowed for at least one user group to perform with respect to the object type and the one or more actions comprise modifying properties associated with the object type;

identifying an object of the object type for security configuration;

receiving a selection of the policy set associated with the object type to apply to the object; and

in response to the selection of the policy set, configuring security for the object by applying the policy set associated with the object type to the object.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the object type comprises a controller object type and the policy set associated with the object type comprises a controller policy set.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein identifying the object of the object type for security configuration comprises creating a controller project file, and wherein configuring security for the object by applying the policy set comprises applying the controller policy set to the controller project file.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more actions that are allowed for the at least one user group to perform on the object type comprise adding tags associated with the object type.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more actions that are allowed for the at least one user group to perform on the object type comprise modifying routine code.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more actions that are allowed for the at least one user group to perform on the object type comprise deleting tags associated with the object type.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the object type comprises a human-machine interface (HMI) object type.

8. One or more computer-readable storage media having program instructions stored thereon to facilitate controlling access to objects associated with an industrial automation environment, wherein the program instructions, when executed by a computing system, direct the computing system to at least:

create a policy set associated with an object type, wherein the policy set defines one or more actions that are allowed for at least one user group to perform with respect to the object type and the one or more actions comprise modifying properties associated with the object type;

identify an object of the object type for security configuration;

receive a selection of the policy set associated with the object type to apply to the object; and

in response to the selection of the policy set, configure security for the object by applying the policy set associated with the object type to the object.

9. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 8 wherein the object type comprises a controller object type and the policy set associated with the object type comprises a controller policy set.

10. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 9 wherein the program instructions direct the computing system to identify the object of the object type for security configuration by directing the computing system to create a controller project file, and wherein the program instructions direct the computing system to configure security for the object by directing the computing system to apply the controller policy set to the controller project file.

11. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 8 wherein the one or more actions that are allowed for the at least one user group to perform on the object type comprise adding tags associated with the object type.

12. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 8 wherein the one or more actions that are allowed for the at least one user group to perform on the object type comprise modifying routine code.

13. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 8 wherein the one or more actions that are allowed for the at least one user group to perform on the object type comprise deleting tags associated with the object type.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 8 wherein the object type comprises a human-machine interface (HMI) object type.

15. An apparatus to facilitate controlling access to objects associated with an industrial automation environment, the apparatus comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media that, when executed by a processing system, direct the processing system to at least:

create a policy set associated with an object type, wherein the policy set defines one or more actions that are allowed for at least one user group to perform with respect to the object type and the one or more actions comprise modifying properties associated with the object type;

identify an object of the object type for security configuration;

receive a selection of the policy set associated with the object type to apply to the object; and

in response to the selection of the policy set, configure security for the object by applying the policy set associated with the object type to the object.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the object type comprises a controller object type and the policy set associated with the object type comprises a controller policy set.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the program instructions direct the processing system to identify the object of the object type for security configuration by directing the processing system to create a controller project file, and wherein the program instructions direct the processing system to configure security for the object by directing the processing system to apply the controller policy set to the controller project file.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the one or more actions that are allowed for the at least one user group to perform on the object type comprise adding tags associated with the object type.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the one or more actions that are allowed for the at least one user group to perform on the object type comprise modifying routine code.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the one or more actions that are allowed for the at least one user group to perform on the object type comprise deleting tags associated with the object type.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2017
From: CASE, CLARK; BRANDT, ROBERT A.; WILKINSON, JOHN C.
To: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 042515/0053 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62168256 · May 29, 2015
Related Publication 20160350559A1 · Dec 1, 2016